Finland

Enjoying Nature: Urho Kekkonen National Park, Finland

For the rugged outdoors lover or the novice hiker, the Urho Kekkonen National Park is an idyllic park with amazing views and the perfect adventure. A family friendly destination, this park is located across the Eastern and Northern Lapland in Finland, it’s the perfect place for skiing and hiking. Idyllic views await you as you trek through the wilderness, hiking through gorges, boulder fields, and traipsing beautiful mini waterfalls.

One of the pulls of this wonderful piece of nature is its seclusion. You can be alone for days (if you desire) because the park is so vast and has so many different trails. Though you won’t be completely alone, as the park is filled with animals such as bears, lynx, and reindeer. These majestic creatures pepper the grounds, but you don’t have to worry too much about them. They give humans a wide berth, but bring your camera and binoculars.

The weather maintains on the cold side, but it does warm up significantly during the day. The skiing season is usually in March, but it often holds until summer. The summer nights are moderately cold, but the mosquitos don’t show up until mid June, and are kept at bay because of the freezing temperatures at night. The best place to stay are in the huts on the ground. The off season tends to be less crowded, but it’s definitely fun to go any time of year.  At night, you’re treated to perfect stargazing conditions with the regular appearance of Aurora Borealis, also known as The Northern Lights!

With any national park, there are a few provisos. The park borders Russia, whose boundaries tourists are expected to maintain. There are a few entry restrictions during bird season and the area called Sompio is a strict nature reserve, so hikers need to strictly keep to the trails. The greatest part about visiting here is that you don’t need a permit to go! Unlike the national parks in the US, there are no restrictions on camping or “roughing it” so to speak, however, there are some permits needed to fish.

This beautiful park is the perfect location to get back to nature and explore your more daring side. Get down on the ground and remember where the human race is rooted. You can feel the spin of the Earth here as you look up at the stars and witness the wonders of the world. Whether you’re visiting with your family, or finding your own inner peace, there is something to enjoy for every soul on the planet.